I’ve seen a lot of toys recently mention that they are phthalate-free. What does this mean and is it important?-Confused Consumer
San Diego, CA
This is a very true observation. In recent years, many sex toys make it a point to mention that they are phthalate-free. Let’s start with defining what exactly phthalates are. Phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates) are chemicals that are used to soften plastics. While they are found in a variety of everyday products, like makeup and children’s toys, the sex toy industry uses phthalates to produce soft, flexible vinyl, or PVC, toys. Jelly or rubber toys are also usually made with phthalates. If a toy is labeled as phthalate-free, it means that it was not made using phthalates. Plain and simple.
One of the draws of these soft plastic (phthalate-full) sex toys is that they are markedly cheaper and usually easier to find than, say, 100% silicone toys, which can be fairly pricey and harder to seek out if you are just running into the local adult store to grab a little something.
But what makes phthalates so bad, especially if they are in so many household products? Recent studies are showing that phthalates can have adverse health affects on the body, including organ damage, hormone changes, lowered sperm count, to name a few. Phthalates have also been linked to being probable human carcinogens. While much of this research is considered inconclusive because we don’t know the long term effects of phthalates, there has been some pretty strong evidence to back up these claims.
Along with being a less than healthy option, sex toys with phthalates can sometimes come out of the package smelling grossly plasticy or perfumed or be covered in a greasy film. These are the phthalates leaking out of the toys porous surfaces (all toys with phthalates are porous). Kind of gross, huh?
So, what if you can’t afford a high-price sex toy or are unable to find quality toys locally? First, check the Internet, if you have access. There are a variety of sites that feature phthalate-free toys that range in price points, though they are usually still more money than jelly or vinyl toys. But what if you can only get toys that are made with phthalates? And what about the people that just like jelly rubber or PVC toys? Not to worry. Two great ways to still use toys with phthalates, yet protect yourself from the negative affects are:
1. Be sure to wash your jelly/rubber/PVC toy with soap and water before using it. Not only does it clean the toy nicely, it gets rid of any excess phthalates that might have been seeping out of the toy’s pores.
2. Using condoms! Reducing the amount of phthalates that come in contact with your body is as easy is tearing open a condom wrapper and covering your toy with a condom. Latex or nitrile gloves also make great barriers for phthalates. Plus, since porous sex toys are unable to be completely sterilized and can hang onto bacteria and other not-so-goodies, using condoms is also a great way to easily and safely share your sex toys with your partner or whoever else!
It’s pretty important to know what’s in your sex toys. I mean seriously, these things are going into some of our most sensitive parts! As I said above, your best bet when it comes to finding awesome phthalate-free toys is to go online. Check out women-friendly sites like EdenFantasys.com and VibeReview.com for great selections of toys and reviews that specify each toy’s phthalate status!
Thanks for the question!
J.D. Bauchery
Get the dirt on all kinds of dildos, vibes and so much more with: Personal Touch With Jamye Waxman Volume 1 – Toying With Pleasure :
